THE secretary of a church which caused uproar when its minister refused to marry a couple because of the difference in their ages today supported the decision.

Joan Ashworth, secretary of the United Reformed Besses O'Th'Barn Church said the Rev Ruth Wollaston was right to refuse to marry Ellen Channonn, 54 and Peter Wellens, 27.

The couple, from Prestwich, Greater Manchester, are believed to have been together for seven years but their wedding was considered "ill-advised" by the minister.

Miss Ashworth said: "We agree with what Ruth said.

"She is doing the wedding service, it is up to her."

Following a lengthy conversation with the couple, of Webster Grove, Prestwich, the Rev Wollaston wrote to them saying the wedding, proposed for August, would simply not be possible due to the large age-gap.

The letter, signed Ruth Wollaston, said: "I am sorry to tell you we have decided that it is not possible for you to be married at Besses.

"We appreciate that you have been going out together for four years, but we feel the considerable difference in age between you makes marriage ill-advised."

The devastated couple, who have lived together for most of the duration of their seven-year relationship, will now have to arrange a civil wedding after their hopes of a church blessing were dashed.

Ellen, who has five sons, had her heart set on a traditional white wedding as her first marriage was in a register office. But being a divorcee she and Pete are unable to marry in any other local church.

She said she wanted her granddaughters to be flower girls and grandsons to be page boys. She added: "It would have been a lovely family wedding but now that is gone."

"We know we want to be together. Who is she to judge?" Fiance Pete said: "I am with the woman I love and she loves me, that is all that matters. Age has nothing to do with it."

Standing by her controversial decision, the Rev Wollaston said: "I have an obligation to tell the truth and I have done. Unfortunately, I sometimes have to say things that are not particularly liked but I wrote them a very courteous letter."

She said she refused to marry Ellen and Pete, whom she met for the first time just a couple of weeks ago, because of a "combination of reasons" but added: "Something inside said it wasn't right.

"When he is 60 she will be 86 and might be a little old lady in a home. If it all went wrong people would ask why the church did it."